Ethan memorized the coordinates before Lyra wiped the system clean. If they were compromised, the Time Loop Bank wouldn't find anything useful. They moved fast, exiting the vault and retracing their steps through the secured corridors. Every second counted. Cassandra wasn't just alive—she was already being hunted.
Lyra's voice was low as they navigated past the motion-triggered erasure unit. "We need transport. Those coordinates put her outside the corporate sector, somewhere in the old districts."
Ethan processed the location. The old districts had been abandoned years ago, left to decay when the city expanded. If Cassandra was hiding there, she wasn't just avoiding the system—she was staying off-grid completely.
They slipped back through the maintenance tunnel, emerging in a shadowed alley behind the main infrastructure. The city above them pulsed with artificial light, drones patrolling the skyline. Ethan's mind was already working through options. "We need to move without drawing attention."
Lyra checked her console. "I can spoof a transit log, but only for a limited window. Once we leave the central zone, we're running blind."
Ethan nodded. "That's all we need."
They found an old transport hub, a lower-tier access station used for workers and cargo movement. The scanners were weak, the security minimal. Lyra tapped into the system, rerouting their identification codes. The transport doors slid open, and they stepped inside.
As the capsule moved through the underground transit lanes, Ethan's pulse remained steady. Every moment that passed brought them closer to Cassandra—but also closer to whoever else was looking for her.
Lyra watched the feed on her wrist console. "No pursuit signals yet. Either they haven't noticed the breach… or they're already ahead of us."
Ethan didn't respond. He was already considering the second option. If Cassandra had left that message, she had expected someone to find it. And if the Time Loop Bank was tracking her, they wouldn't hesitate.
The transport slowed, docking at the old district checkpoint. The doors slid open, revealing a world forgotten by time.
Ethan stepped out first, scanning the area. Broken infrastructure, collapsed buildings, flickering streetlights struggling to stay online. The city had moved on, but this place had been left behind.
Lyra adjusted her coat, pulling her weapon closer. "She's hiding somewhere in this."
Ethan's voice was calm. "Then we find her before they do."
They moved into the ruins, guided only by the faint signal Cassandra had left behind.
The hunt had begun.